Just a lad of fifteen I was,
       standing in front of the mirror, staring at the fuzz.
I knew I was going to be a man someday,
       because my beard was fast on it’s way.
I remember counting four, five, six and more
       coarse, dark, hairs coming from their facial pore.
I remember letting them grow for over a week,
       just so I could see those six hairs on my cheek.
As the fair ones continued to change, soon there was a total of forty-four.
       And though I was excited, I impatiently waited for hundreds more.

As I would search from ear to ear and everything in between,
       I noticed a difference in the hair in both color and in sheen.
Only a few were very dark and feeling like tiny slivers of steel.
       The rest were soft and of every shade in a brown color wheel.
Some fair ones never changed, no matter how many times I cut their stock,
       almost as if they resisted my attempts to have them come and join the flock.
But with each new dark hair, I cheered loudly and danced upon the floor.
       Then my focus went to another. For he who changed, I cared no more.
With each change I would laugh and cheer, "I have you now," I would say out loud.
       "You’ll never be fair again, now grow and make me proud."

And then one day as I was staring away,
       I began to think of all God’s children who’d gone astray.
Like the hair on my face, they were people who started out fair and soft.
       But because of sin, now had become dark and coarse and almost lost.
They changed because they listened to the "Master of Lies" who cheered them on,
       convincing them he was their friend when in fact they were who he preyed upon.
He was enticing those who had once been clean and bright and fair
       to come follow his path where he hid pain, misery and despair.
From cheering them on, to caring no more, then laughing at their mournful cries,
       he grinds their faces in the mess they made of their own and their loved ones’ lives.

I chilled, but then remembered there was One in the beginning who said,
       "I’ll make amends for the things they’ve done. Send me," He willingly plead.
So though we walk through life and we can become soiled, coarse and dark,
       there is One who is there to save us, if we will repent and do our part.
And though the evil one is cunning, powerful and his will is very strong,
       this One is greater and He can make amends for things we’ve done wrong.
So don’t believe he who tries to convince you, you’ve made too great a mistake.
       Believe instead in the One who loves you and says with Him, it’s not too late.
For He shall be called the Prince of Peace, the Savior, The Begotten One.
       He’s the Creator of heaven and earth and through Him, salvation is won.